Flue-cleaner.



Nth, 739,435.

PATENTED SEPT. 22 A. M.- MBLGHEB. BLUE CLEANER. I APPLIOATIOH TILED FEB. 19, 1903- UNITED STATES Fatented September 22, 1903 PATENT ()nrron.

ALPHONSQ MORRIS MELCliER, or OSHKQSH, WISCONSlN, AssIcN'oR or ONE-HALF TOO. F. SOHUMANN, OF OSHKOSH, WISCONSIN.

FLU E-CLEANIEBQ' srnorrron'rroixi formingpart of Letters Patent fie. 739,435, dated September 22, 1903.

Application filed February 19,1903. Serial No. 144,065. (No model.)

T0 alt whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALPHONSO MORRIS MEL- CHER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Oshkosh, in the county of Winnebago and State of Wisconsin, have invented. new and useful Improvements in Flue-Cleaners; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others'skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

The invention relates to improvements in flue-cleaners, and has for its object to provide a simple and inexpensive flue-cleaner adapted to be readily ap'plied. to a chimney and capable of adjustment to clamp" the walls of chimneys having fines 'of different sizes, whereby the flue-cleaner is firmly held in position on a chimney.

A further object of the invention is to. provide a flue cleaner of this character which will be capable of convenient operation from the exterior of a chimney or flue to raise and lower a brush in the flue to remove the soot and other accumulations therefrom.

The invention also has for itsobject to provide a fluecleaner in which the brush may be readily varied in size to adapt it to scrape properly the walls of chimneys having fines of various sizesand shapes.

The invention consists of the novel construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter described and shown, andv particularly pointed out in the claims heretoappended.

In the drawings forming part of this specie fication and in which like numerals of reference designate corresponding'parts, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flue-cleaner constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to a chimney, thelatter being.

in section. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the supporting-bar and the pulley orsheave. Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3 3 of Fig. 4, illustrating the manner of mount ing the pulley or sheave. Fig. 4 is a plan View of a portion of the brush. Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the central portion of the same. Fig. 6 is a similar view showing a modified form of brush. Fig. 7 is a plan view of" the same. 7 Fig. 8 is a reverse plan view thereof. Fig. 9 is a plan view of the lower circular plate.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates a horizontal supporting-bar designed'tobe arranged upon the top of a chimney 2 and provided at its ends'with longitudinal slots 3 for the reception of bolts 4'for adjustably securing jaws 5 to the lower face of the bar.- The jaws 5, which consist of L-shaped or angle plates, engage the inner face of the opposite walls of the chimney, as shown in Fig. 1,

whereby the supporting-bar is firmly held in portion and a head or flange arranged at one edge of the peripheral portion.

The pulley or sheave receives the chain 11 or other suitable flexible connection, which is attached at its ends to a brush 12,'consisting of a central clamp and a series of wires 13,. designed to be arranged, as illustrated in Fig. 4 of the drawings, to provide a brush to conform to the configuration of the flue and adapted to be removed to permitother wires or brush material to be put in the clamp for changing the size orconfiguration of the to'its central opening for the screw, and the wires are provided at their inner ends with I depending projections 20 for engaging the recess 19 to prevent them from being pulled out of the clamp. The lower end is also provided at its upper engaging face with a series of notches to receive and space the wires or other brush material, the notches being preferably formed in an annular flange 21. The

brush. The clamp consists of a central verflange 21 is also provided with suitable flange 21.

notches for the reception of inwardly-extending ends 22 and 23 of upper and lower bails 24 and 25, which constitute the means for connecting the ends of the chain with the clamp of the brush. The inwardly-extending ends are arranged in suitable recesses of the The upper bail or hanger is provided at the top with a U-shaped bend 26 to center the chain and is approximately U- shaped. The lower bail is approximately V-shaped, as shown.

In Figs. 6 to S, inclusive, of the drawings is illustrated a modification of the invention in which the screw 27 has an enlarged head to receive the lower plate28 and is provided with lugs 2.) for engaging the same. The upper plate 30, which is clamped by a nut 31, is provided with lugs for engaging recesses of the enlarged portion of the screw. The screw is provided at its ends with suitable eyes and 3% to receive the ends of the chain.

The chain is arranged on the sheave or pulley in the slot or opening of the supporting-bar and its ends are connected with the brush. It is of sufficient length to extend through the thimble of a stovepipe-opening 'to permit it to be operated from the exterior and connected with the brush, substantially as described.

2. A flue-cleaner, comprising a bar provided with a central enlargement having an opening, and provided with open bearing-recesses in the walls of the opening, a pulley or sheave arranged in the opening, and provided with journals fitted in the bearing-recesses, adjustable clamps, arranged on the lower face of the bar for engaging the walls of the flue, a flexible connection arranged on the sheave, and a brush connected with the flexible connection, substantially as described.

3. A flue-cleaner, comprising a brush composed of a bolt or screw having a nut, a lower plate interlocked with the bolt or screw and provided with notches at its upper face, an upper plate, brush material clamped between the plates, and hoisting mechanism, connected with the brush, substantially as described.

L. A flue-cleaner comprising a brush composed of a screw, provided with a nut, a lower plate interlocked with the screw and provided at its upper face with notches and having an inner recess, an upper plate, and wires fitted in the notches and provided with projections for engaging the recess, said wires being detachable and interchangeable for varying the size and shape of the brush and means for raising and lowering the brush, substantially as described.

I11 testimony whereof I have hereto affixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ALPI-IONSO MORRIS MELOHER.

\Vitnesses:

J. A. POWERS, F. W. FISHER. 

